Saraiki province
Decentralisation of more administrative units and creation of new provinces is indispensable in a rapidly devolving world. Likewise, the issue of South Punjab and similar profiles in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, or even Sindh and Balochistan, have for long been a political chorus. But our chequered course of action hasn’t walked the talk. This is why there is resentment and the fundamental rights of the people, as enshrined in the Constitution, are far from accessible. The belated tabling of a private member’s bill to create a separate province named South Punjab still seems to be a half-hearted effort. The fact that the onus of responsibility is lacking on the part of major political parties — which thrive on the vote bank, otherwise, of these destitute electorates — makes it a shady affair.
The South Punjab province bill tabled in the upper house is a plethora of confusion. None of the stakeholders are sure as to what would be its fate. Surprisingly enough, a lone member of the PML-N has tabled the bill in his private capacity. Nothing is on record to say that the biggest political force in Punjab, the Nawaz League, will support it or not. Similarly, the ruling PTI which promised to create a province in southern Punjab within the first 100 days of assuming power is looking the other way. It seems to be contended with its initiative of creating a Secretariat in the south, and there hasn’t been any leap forward since then. Last but not least, the PPP which is more proactive on the South Punjab issue is making a valuable point by putting the PTI in the dock.
The people of South Punjab have longed for a definite administrative identification. Its creation will have wide ranging ramifications and, of course, political fissures too. Bifurcating Pakistan’s biggest province should carry utmost consensus. The southern Saraiki belt territorial stretch is around 52 per cent of what is Punjab today, and comprises roughly 35 per cent of population. Let it be so, if it addresses the aspirations of its sovereigns. And why stop at the Saraiki belt? The rationale is to have similar units in other thickly-populated areas too. An organic and devolving Pakistan is sine qua non for prosperity.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2022.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.